Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

rdssdi wrote:The breather lines run from each tank vent ..... exiting behind the rear tire.

I think Bob means in FRONT of the rear tyre in terms of car direction (or behind it if looking from the back of the car! ).

Matthew

I need a replacement memory. It is fading.

Bob

Sorry, I mean't breather pipes.

I was envisioning a possibility of attaching a new pipe to the old one and pulling the new one through. I don't know how tight it is where they go around the window so wondered if anyone knew if it was possible? Maybe?

The old breather pipes go very hard with age. I dont think its possible to pull an old one out without removing the trim and pulling them out sideways.

regards
Rohan

Hmm, yes they are a bit hard.

Oh well, maybe I should try disconnecting them and blocking the tank outlets as a test to see if the smell goes away.

How difficult is it to get the rear screen out?

Robbie
Dont know how hard to take out as I have never done it but it was easy to put a new one in.

I had the rear screen disintegrate one day as the car was sitting in the garage !

cheers
Rohan

A flex line that would pass into the original vent lines could possibly be pulled through. It would require a spring steel flex line similar to what is used to pull wires through a conduit.

The smaller diameter line should allow enough air flow. The problem is replacing the lines. The original lines are tied to the lip at the rear screen opening. If you carefully look under the rubber you will see some string passsing through small holes in the fiberglass. This string is wound many times around the breather line securing it under the headliner along the screen opening. I was unsucesssful in replicating the original method. Now that I have breather vent valves I no longer pass the vent lines over the rear screen.

It is possible that the petrol odor is due to thee fact that the original breathers are open to the atmosphere and air currents passing over the fuel in the tank from one breather to the other produce a large amount of vapor.

I wonder if fitting a vapor recovery system as found in newer +2's would solve the problem? I beleive the vent lines run differently and could be an erasier re-fit. Possibly someone on the list could assist with that. It should also be in the workshop manual.
Bob